Our Many Cultures
FoundationHong Kong is a multicultural society where people celebrate different festivals; learn about them and respect them, and we are all one family.
- Hong Kong is a multicultural society where different races live together.
- Christmas, Easter and Halloween are common Western festivals.
- Cultures have different festivals, such as Eid and Diwali.
文體小知識：這種說明文帶你走進不同文化：認識各族的節日習俗，學會尊重和欣賞每種生活方式。
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1Hong Kong is a multicultural society. On the streets we meet people of different nationalities and colours: besides Chinese people, there are friends from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Pakistan and Nepal. Some classmates' families come from South or Southeast Asia; at home they speak another language and cook dishes of different flavours. People of different races live and work together in Hong Kong, making this city richer and more colourful.
2Hong Kong also celebrates many Western festivals. Christmas is on 25 December, when Christians remember the birth of Jesus; people decorate Christmas trees, exchange gifts and sing carols. Easter comes in spring, remembering the resurrection of Jesus and standing for new life; children play with Easter eggs and egg hunts. Halloween is on 31 October, when children dress up as little witches and pumpkins and play trick-or-treat — great fun and very lively.
3Children of different cultures celebrate different festivals. We Chinese eat rice cakes and give lucky money at Lunar New Year; Muslim friends from Pakistan and Indonesia celebrate Eid, which ends the fasting month — they wear new clothes, share good food, and elders give green packets. Indian friends celebrate Diwali, lighting lamps to pray for brightness. The festivals differ, but all are happy days of family reunion and blessing.
4Respecting different cultures and ways of life is the right attitude. When classmates wear headscarves, do not eat pork or beef, or have prayer habits, we must not laugh at them; we should understand that these are part of their culture. Every culture has its own beauty, like different flowers in a garden, each with its colour and scent. Only by appreciating and learning from one another can we get along happily and keep society harmonious.
5When there are non-Chinese-speaking classmates, we can greet them first, invite them to play, and listen as they introduce their hometown festivals and food. On school culture days, everyone displays costumes, music and dishes from different countries and learns from one another. Hong Kong is beautiful because of its diversity. Wherever we come from, we are all members of this big Hong Kong family — respecting one another and progressing together.
1Summary 重點摘要
Hong Kong is a multicultural society where people celebrate different festivals; learn about them and respect them, and we are all one family.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
A place where people of many cultural backgrounds live together.
Groups of people by skin colour, language and origins, such as Chinese and South Asian.
25 December, when Christians remember the birth of Jesus.
A spring festival remembering Jesus' resurrection, with Easter egg games.
31 October, when children dress up and play trick-or-treat.
The Muslim festival ending the fasting month, with new clothes, food and green packets.
The Indian festival of lights, symbolising light winning over darkness.
Valuing and accepting others' differences without laughing at or excluding them.
Ways of living and celebrating passed down in a culture.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Hong Kong is a multicultural societyLook around us: classmates of different colours in the classroom, helpers from the Philippines and Indonesia in the park, South Asian shopkeepers in the market. Many races live in Hong Kong, each with its own language, dress and food — this is a multicultural society. People of different races work, study and live as neighbours, helping one another. Learn from a young age to get along with everyone: greet politely and treat people sincerely, and the big Hong Kong family grows warmer and more lively.
- Step 2: The story and customs of ChristmasChristmas is on 25 December, when Christians remember the birth of Jesus. The story says Jesus was born in a stable, angels told shepherds the good news, and three wise men followed a bright star to visit him. Today Christmas is loved across Hong Kong: shopping malls put up trees and lights, people exchange presents, sing carols and share Christmas dinner, and schools hold parties. Knowing Christmas, we see it is a day of love and sharing, and we learn to bless those around us too.
- Step 3: Easter and HalloweenEaster comes in spring, when Christians remember the resurrection of Jesus — a sign of new life and hope. Easter eggs stand for new beginnings, and children love egg hunts, searching the flower beds for colourful eggs. Halloween is on 31 October. It grew from an old Western tradition into a dress-up festival: children go as little witches and pumpkins, knocking on doors for sweets and playing trick-or-treat. Both festivals are full of fun and teach us about Western culture.
- Step 4: Festivals in different culturesMany cultures have their own major festivals. We eat rice cakes and give lucky money at Lunar New Year. Muslim friends from Pakistan and Indonesia celebrate Eid: after a month of fasting — no food or drink in daytime, training the will — they wear new clothes, share feasts, visit relatives, and elders give green packets. Indian friends celebrate Diwali, lighting lamps that stand for light winning over darkness. Customs differ, but all these festivals mean a fresh start, family reunion and blessings for one another.
- Step 5: Respect different culturesRespecting different cultures and ways of life is part of good character. A classmate's headscarf follows her hometown tradition; some people avoid pork or beef for religious reasons; some have prayer habits. We should understand and accept all of this, never laughing at or forcing others. If you want to know more, ask politely and listen to the explanation. Every culture is like a flower in a garden, with its own colour and scent. Those who appreciate differences have the most friends and are the best loved.
- Step 6: Making friends with non-Chinese-speaking classmatesWhen a non-Chinese-speaking classmate joins us, reaching out first matters most. Smile and greet him, introduce yourself slowly and clearly, and invite him to play and to have lunch together. When his Chinese is not fluent, listen patiently; if you do not understand, use gestures and pictures — never laugh at him. Ask him to share his hometown's festivals and food, such as the dishes of Eid, and learn from each other. Help him when he is in difficulty, like showing him around the school. One kind word warms a new classmate.
5Worked example Example
Example: A new classmate, Ali, has come from Pakistan and his Chinese is not yet fluent. How can we make him feel welcome?
- Smile and greet him first, introduce yourself slowly and clearly, and invite Ali to play and have lunch with you.
- Do not laugh at his name, accent or clothes; listen patiently, and use gestures and pictures when words fail.
- Ask Ali to introduce his hometown's festivals and food, such as Eid, so everyone learns about each other's culture.
- Help him when he is in difficulty, for example showing him around the school and explaining the daily timetable.
- Answer: We can greet Ali first, invite him to play and have lunch, listen patiently without laughing at him, ask him to share his culture like Eid, and help him whenever needed. With everyone's friendship, Ali will feel welcome and soon settle into the new school.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What kind of society is Hong Kong?
Q2What does Christmas remember?
Q3What game do children play at Easter?
Q4What festival do Pakistani friends celebrate?
Q5What attitude should we have towards different cultures?
8Recap Recap
- Hong Kong is a multicultural society where different races live together.
- Christmas, Easter and Halloween are common Western festivals.
- Cultures have different festivals, such as Eid and Diwali.
- Respect others' cultures and ways of life — never mock or discriminate.
- Care for non-Chinese-speaking classmates and be a friendly host.